More than 200 individuals in the animation industry have signed an open letter insisting on an end to sexual harassment in the workplace.

The letter was sent anonymously on Thursday to executives at major animation studios, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. It follows the reports of decades of sexual harassment, assault and rape allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein, and Nickelodeon's firing of Chris Savino, the creator of the animated series Loud House, whom up to a dozen women have accused of sexual harassment, unwanted advances and inappropriate behavior.

"In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, many of the women who work in animation have begun discussing more openly issues that we have dealt with quietly throughout our careers,” reads the letter. “As we came together to share our stories of sexism, sexual harassment and, in some cases, sexual assault, we were struck by the pervasiveness of the problem.”

In light of recent events and in response to the animators' letter, DreamWorks Animation's CEO Chris DeFaria and head of TV animation Margie Cohn sent a memo to that studio's staff saying, "We wanted to take this opportunity to reinforce our company's policy of safeguarding equal employment opportunities and prohibiting harassment of any kind. We stand together in supporting a culture in which individuals can, and are expected to, speak up, and one in which people are held accountable for their actions."

The animators' letter notes that women make up 23 percent of the industry's union employees. "As more women have entered the animation workforce, it still seems that some men have not embraced this change," the letter continues. "They still frequently made crass sexual remarks that make it clear women are not welcome on their crews. Some have pressed colleagues for romantic or sexual relationships, despite our clear disinterest. And some have seen the entrance of more women into the industry as an opportunity to exploit and victimize younger workers on their crews who are looking for mentorship. In addition, when sexual predators are caught at one workplace, they seem to easily find a job at another studio, sometimes even following their victims from job to job. We are tired of relying on whisper networks to know who isn't safe to meet with alone. We want our supervisors to protect us from harassment and assault. This abuse has got to stop."

Among the demands included in the letter are clear and enforceable sexual harassment policies at every studio; amendments to the Animation Guild constitution to "censure, fine, suspend or expel" members who are "found guilty of any act, omission, or conduct which is prejudicial to the welfare of the guild;" and support from male colleagues to "start speaking up and standing up for us. When their co-workers make sexist remarks, or when they see sexual harassment happening, we expect them to say something. Stop making excuses for bad behavior in your friends and co-workers, and tell them what they are doing is wrong."

The DWA memo also said the company supported efforts by the Animation Guild "to explore additional steps that would help members address concerns within the union."

The animators' lletter concludes, “We resolve to do everything we can to prevent anyone else from being victimized. We are united in our mission to wipe out sexual harassment in the animation industry, and we will no longer be silent.”

Among the 217 women and gender-nonconforming people who signed the letter are Netflix's head of kids programming Jenna Boyd, Bob's Burgers producer and writer Wendy Molyneax, Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar and Danger & Eggs co-creator Shadi Petosky, as well as animators of BoJack Horseman, Adventure Time and The Powerpuff Girls.

Below is the full letter and its 217 signatures. Below that is the DWA memo:

An Open Letter to the Animation Community

We, the women and gender non-conforming people of the animation community, would like to address and highlight the pervasive problem of sexism and sexual harassment in our business. We write this letter with the hope that change is possible, and ask that you listen to our stories and then make every effort to bring a real and lasting change to the culture of animation studios.

In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, many of the women who work in animation have begun discussing more openly issues that we have dealt with quietly throughout our careers. As we came together to share our stories of sexism, sexual harassment and, in some cases, sexual assault, we were struck by the pervasiveness of the problem. Every one of us has a story to share, from tossed-off comments about our body parts that were framed as “jokes” to women being cornered in dark rooms by male colleagues to criminal assault.

Our business has always been male-dominated. Women make up only 23% of union employees, so it’s no surprise that problems with sexism and sexual harassment exist. Sexual harassment and assault are widespread issues that primarily affect women, with women of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups affected at an even greater rate.

As more women have entered the animation workforce, it seems that some men have not embraced this change. They still frequently make crass sexual remarks that make it clear women are not welcome on their crews. Some have pressed colleagues for romantic or sexual relationships, despite our clear disinterest. And some have seen the entrance of more women into the industry as an opportunity to exploit and victimize younger workers on their crews who are looking for mentorship. In addition, when sexual predators are caught at one workplace, they seem to easily find a job at another studio, sometimes even following their victims from job to job. We are tired of relying on whisper networks to know who isn’t safe to meet with alone. We want our supervisors to protect us from harassment and assault.

This abuse has got to stop.

The signatories of this letter demand that you take sexual harassment seriously. We ask that:

1. Every studio puts in place clear and enforceable sexual harassment policies and takes every report seriously. It must be clear to studio leadership, including producers, that, no matter who the abuser is, they must investigate every report or face consequences themselves.

2. The Animation Guild add language in our constitution that states that it can “censure, fine, suspend or expel any member of the guild who shall, in the opinion of the Executive Board, be found guilty of any act, omission, or conduct which is prejudicial to the welfare of the guild.” To craft and support the new language, we ask that an Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Committee be created to help educate and prevent future occurrences.

3. Our male colleagues start speaking up and standing up for us. When their coworkers make sexist remarks, or when they see sexual harassment happening, we expect them to say something. Stop making excuses for bad behavior in your friends and co-workers, and tell them what they are doing is wrong.

It has not been easy for us to share our stories with each other. Many of us were afraid because our victimizers are powerful or well-liked. Others were worried that if they came forward it would affect their careers. Some of us have come forward in the past, only to have our concerns brushed aside, or for our supervisors to tell us “he’s just from a different era.” All of us are saddened and disheartened to hear how widespread the problem of sexual harassment still is in the animation industry, and how many of our friends had been suffering in secret.

It is with this in mind that we resolve to do everything we can to prevent anyone else from being victimized. We are united in our mission to wipe out sexual harassment in the animation industry, and we will no longer be silent.

DreamWorks has a longstanding commitment to providing a safe work environment, one in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

In light of recent events that have deservedly dominated headlines, and in response to the powerful letter sent to the animation community from many of its members, we wanted to take this opportunity to reinforce our company’s policy of safeguarding equal employment opportunities and prohibiting harassment of any kind. We stand together in supporting a culture in which individuals can, and are expected to, speak up, and one in which people are held accountable for their actions.

To foster a workplace where employees feel secure, as well as comfortable raising any concern, we provide regular training, including mandatory in-person training for all managers. It is incumbent upon all of us to raise concerns that we see or hear of, and the company provides multiple avenues to do so, including the option to remain anonymous. These include:

Your manager, or another senior manager

Your HR partners: Trained to respond and address employees concerns, these colleagues are available as you need their support.

Integrity Helpline: Created to allow you to raise workplace or integrity issues, this service is designed to permit you, if you choose, to raise your concern anonymously.

We treat these complaints very seriously and conduct a fair and thorough investigation. When we find improper conduct has occurred, we take appropriate action. We do not tolerate retaliation in any form against individuals who have the courage to raise an issue or lend their support to those who do.

We have no doubt that the Animation Guild takes these issues as seriously as we do. We support their efforts to explore additional steps that would help their members address concerns within the union.

We are a community of creative storytellers who take enormous pride in what we accomplish together every day. Maintaining and supporting a work environment that fosters open dialogue is our highest priority.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, your supervisor, or your HR representative.